WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.900 Okay, if you have been with us for five years, or this is the first Sunday you've ever stepped foot in Watermark Community Church, 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:21.300 what we hope we've been saying, what we've been trying to say, what we hope you've been hearing from us as we've been up here preaching and teaching, 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:23.199 is that we are all on a journey. 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:26.400 That we're all on this spiritual journey. 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:32.820 And we hope that sometime within this journey that you're on, that you hear God's word. 00:00:33.699 --> 00:00:35.299 We hope that you hear the good news. 00:00:35.420 --> 00:00:36.640 We hope that you hear the gospel. 00:00:37.379 --> 00:00:48.299 We hope that you come to this overwhelmingly realization that there's a holy God who is passionately and aggressively pursuing you. 00:00:49.179 --> 00:00:53.820 The Bible says that God never stops pursuing his people. 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:56.939 We hope that you see God's holiness. 00:00:58.579 --> 00:01:04.299 But more importantly, and just as important, we hope that you see your own brokenness. 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:09.519 We hope that you see your need for a Savior. 00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:11.780 We hope that you see that you're self-centered. 00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:13.079 We hope that you see that you're selfish. 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:15.960 We hope that you see that you're a sinner. 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:24.500 We hope that you see that no matter how much you try to do, that you are light years away from a holy God. 00:01:25.299 --> 00:01:30.099 And we want you to hear this over and over and over again from God's word. 00:01:30.379 --> 00:01:32.379 That the only hope for us is Jesus. 00:01:33.899 --> 00:01:41.500 That 100% man, 100% God, perfect in all righteousness, who was crucified for you. 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:50.060 A just man, a righteous man, was killed so that you could have life. 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:58.079 And as you've been listening, our prayer and our hope for you is that you would understand that only Christ makes a way for us to come back to God the Father. 00:01:58.180 --> 00:02:02.500 We can try and we can do, but all of these things fall short from God's holiness. 00:02:02.500 --> 00:02:11.060 And the only way that we can come back to God the Father is if we accept this gift, this payment, his blood, his life. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:20.560 Our prayer is that you would just confess and that you would repent of your sins and your attempts to be righteous in your own works, in your self-righteousness. 00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:26.580 That you would just understand what the Bible talks about, about God's grace and how he brings his grace into our life. 00:02:26.939 --> 00:02:29.340 And through this grace, we call it passive righteousness. 00:02:29.580 --> 00:02:31.479 It's a passive righteousness. 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:35.699 You and I are passively made righteous because we don't do anything. 00:02:36.219 --> 00:02:38.379 Christ does everything for us. 00:02:38.459 --> 00:02:42.979 All we just do is we receive it as a gift by faith. 00:02:43.079 --> 00:02:46.599 And our prayer is that you would understand this and it would be a part of your heart. 00:02:47.459 --> 00:02:49.299 It would be a part of who we are as a church. 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:51.539 We'd always speak these words. 00:02:51.539 --> 00:03:02.799 The Bible says that as we do this, as we go on this journey, that you and I as Christians now, we are always going to struggle with this idea of passive righteousness. 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:06.719 Because there's just a sin nature inside of us. 00:03:06.760 --> 00:03:11.340 And this sin nature inside of us wants to work and it wants to do and it wants to earn our own righteousness. 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:13.740 The Bible calls that works righteousness. 00:03:15.060 --> 00:03:18.939 And so we're going to struggle with this passive righteousness because we want to be able to say, I do. 00:03:20.020 --> 00:03:20.840 I teach. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:22.300 I've earned. 00:03:23.020 --> 00:03:24.300 I worked my way up. 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:25.479 This is who I am. 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:28.140 The Bible says that you and I, we're going to struggle. 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:30.039 We're going to try to minimize our sinfulness. 00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:33.560 We're going to try to struggle and we're going to minimize our selfishness. 00:03:33.640 --> 00:03:34.360 We're going to pretend. 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:35.939 We're going to wear a mask. 00:03:36.060 --> 00:03:37.280 We're going to try to cover up our hearts. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:38.860 We're going to tell people, yeah, we're doing okay. 00:03:38.860 --> 00:03:42.420 But the Bible says that we're not. 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:53.320 The Bible is going to tell us that the key to growing in this Christian faith, to continuing on this journey, is the same key that we used when we came to faith. 00:03:54.260 --> 00:03:59.740 It's the same idea that our conversion is brought about by God's word spoken to us. 00:04:00.660 --> 00:04:01.220 The gospel. 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:17.060 And as we go on this journey, as we grow as God's people, how we handle God's word, how we talk about God's word, how we read God's word, how we meditate on God's word, how we do this in our everyday life, this will change us. 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:18.060 It's going to heal us. 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:19.379 It's going to renew us. 00:04:19.420 --> 00:04:20.759 It's going to restore us. 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:29.360 And if we handle God's word well, we're going to see a freshness and a newness and a change in our life. 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:42.280 But if we handle God's word poorly, if God's word is just a decoration in our house because it looks really cool and it's a nice book and we don't want to move it except for when we have to dust it. 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:59.380 If we handle it poorly, if we handle it infrequently, if we don't even read God's word, then the Bible says that our hearts and that our lives and our passions and everything that we love is going to dry up. 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:03.819 It's going to become just like dry bones in the desert. 00:05:05.339 --> 00:05:17.800 Now at Watermark, we're going to say that we believe that the most important mark of a healthy church, because we've been talking about marks of a healthy church, that we believe that the most important mark of a healthy church is how we handle and teach God's word. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:23.439 We're going to say that the most important mark of a healthy Christian is how you handle and hold God's word. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:30.079 We're going to say that God's word is powerful, that in Genesis God speaks and he creates and everything is in existence. 00:05:30.219 --> 00:05:33.579 And we're told that through his word he holds everything together. 00:05:33.719 --> 00:05:43.800 And if we don't, if God just lost his attention or Jesus went to sleep, that everything would just implode and explode in a billion different directions because God's word says that he holds everything together. 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:48.340 We're going to say that God's word brings life and he does in the garden and it does in this passage. 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:50.560 We're going to say that God's word has authority. 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:55.500 God's word, we believe, has more authority than the chairman of the Fed. 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:04.360 Now I know some of you find that hard to believe and some of us are listening for what the chairman of the Fed says more than what we're listening for what God says in our life. 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:09.720 But the Bible has more authority than our presidents and of our advisors and of our chief executives. 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:12.580 And we're going to say that the Bible is relevant today. 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:26.580 We're going to say it's not just for people 2,000 years ago, but it is God's instruction manual and guide and blueprint and guidepost and whatever you want to say, GPS for us today. 00:06:26.699 --> 00:06:27.500 And it's relevant. 00:06:27.660 --> 00:06:30.560 And we're going to say, because we believe it's true, that God's word is true. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:37.360 Now often when I talk to people in Hong Kong, what they want to know, what Asian people want to know is does God's word work? 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:40.379 And we're very pragmatic in Hong Kong, right? 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:41.379 We just want to know, does it work? 00:06:42.540 --> 00:06:46.340 And the problem is, is when something works, it works right now, but it might not work later. 00:06:47.340 --> 00:06:52.579 I mean, some of our relationships work right now, but they don't, might work 10 years down the road or 20 years down the road. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:56.439 And so we don't want you to believe God's word is true because it works. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:58.699 We want you to believe that God's word is true because it's true. 00:06:58.699 --> 00:07:01.319 And if God's word is true, then it will work. 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:04.579 It will work today, and it will work tomorrow, and it will work 20 years into your life. 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:09.459 And it works when you're on your deathbed, and it works when you get fired, and it works when your spouse wants to divorce you. 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:12.939 It works in all those situations because God's word is true. 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:21.099 We're going to say that God's word has a central place, and all we do is God's people, and in it, God reveals himself. 00:07:21.100 --> 00:07:30.780 And we're going to say that God, through his word, is the only means of bringing hope and meaning and purpose to our life. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:38.200 We've been talking for five years about how God's word comes in, and it shows us our selfishness, and it shows us God's holiness, 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:45.120 and it shows us this struggle where we have this struggle to decrease the gospel and decrease the cross and make it little. 00:07:46.339 --> 00:07:49.759 And God's word is going to remind us over and over of passive righteousness. 00:07:49.979 --> 00:07:51.339 Passive righteousness is a gift. 00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:52.399 I've given it to you. 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:52.939 I've done it all. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:54.180 I'm bestowing it upon you. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:55.360 Don't try to work. 00:07:55.480 --> 00:08:00.060 Don't try to do it because if you try to work, if you try to do it on your own, you're going to mess up, and it's just going to fall apart. 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:07.280 And we believe that, in fact, the Bible is this story of God speaking to us. 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:15.959 I mean, the main passage and message that weaves through the thread of all of Scripture is that God is speaking to you and me right now, 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.279 that he's pursuing you. 00:08:18.340 --> 00:08:19.620 He's passionately pursuing you. 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:22.399 And then the big question of the Bible is this. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:24.600 Will we listen to him? 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:29.079 Because the thread is he's pursuing us. 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:29.879 He's talking to us. 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:30.680 He wants to know us. 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:32.559 He wants to have a relationship to us, with us. 00:08:32.679 --> 00:08:34.720 But the question is, are we going to respond to him? 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:35.539 Are we going to obey? 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:38.120 Are we going to not obey? 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:43.000 And the Bible says that God sends his word over and over and over, and we have this choice. 00:08:43.059 --> 00:08:44.639 And the choice is, are we going to follow God? 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:45.720 Are we going to try to be God? 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:47.419 That's the only two choices. 00:08:49.580 --> 00:08:52.620 God brings his word over and over and over, and we have a choice. 00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:53.679 Are we going to follow God? 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:54.759 Are we going to try to be God? 00:08:54.759 --> 00:08:58.779 And if we try to be God, we have to face the consequences of trying to be God in our world. 00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:00.339 And we see that all around us. 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:02.779 And that's what the people in Ezekiel were struggling with. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:08.019 So when we come to this passage in Ezekiel, you realize that the people were struggling. 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:09.159 They've heard God. 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:09.879 They've heard God. 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:10.559 They've heard God. 00:09:10.659 --> 00:09:12.399 But they've struggled with obeying God. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:14.439 Just like you do. 00:09:15.079 --> 00:09:15.939 Just like I do. 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:19.360 Every moment of our day, we struggle with this as we read here. 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:21.759 Now, here's some context here. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:24.100 Ezekiel was this young dude. 00:09:24.340 --> 00:09:26.840 I mean, he was like 30 years old when God called him. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:29.620 It was about 623 B.C. 00:09:30.340 --> 00:09:34.620 And if you were alive in 623 B.C., it was an awesome time to be a people of God. 00:09:35.419 --> 00:09:40.240 I mean, up until that point, the temple where people met to worship God, it was trashed out. 00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:42.539 It was all these idols came in. 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:44.639 And if you went into the temple, there'd be money changers. 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:45.960 There'd be a prostitute. 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:47.679 There'd be gambling. 00:09:48.179 --> 00:09:49.419 There'd be all these things there. 00:09:49.419 --> 00:09:53.120 It means like you come into church today, and there's a prostitute over here, and there's gambling over here, 00:09:53.139 --> 00:09:56.299 and you get your banking done over there, and you can do whatever you want over there. 00:09:56.299 --> 00:09:58.240 And that's what it was back then. 00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:01.779 And then this young king comes up, this king Josiah. 00:10:01.859 --> 00:10:02.620 He's this young boy. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:05.279 And he has a heart and a passion for God. 00:10:05.379 --> 00:10:08.939 And so what he does is he goes into the temple, and he just cleans out all the temple. 00:10:09.099 --> 00:10:10.359 He destroys all the idols. 00:10:10.459 --> 00:10:11.339 He cleans out all the temple. 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:15.699 And as they're cleaning out the temple, there's this trash heap in the middle of the temple. 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:20.879 And the guy is going down, and he's picking up this trash heap, and he picks it up, and he comes up with God's word. 00:10:23.359 --> 00:10:24.419 It's their Bible. 00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:31.799 Well, no one had read it for years and years and years because no one even knew it existed. 00:10:33.219 --> 00:10:34.500 And he says, look what I found. 00:10:34.579 --> 00:10:36.360 And Josiah says, okay, let's read this. 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:43.279 And so what he does is he just has people stand, and a priest come in, and he just reads God's word out loud. 00:10:44.079 --> 00:10:48.419 And as he's reading God's word out loud, there's just a revival that happens in people's hearts. 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:53.319 And people realize that God is holy and that they're not. 00:10:54.099 --> 00:10:56.079 And they realize how far they are from God. 00:10:56.719 --> 00:10:59.120 And they repent, and they basically ask God for forgiveness. 00:10:59.719 --> 00:11:01.939 And there's this massive change. 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:05.199 So this is where Ezekiel grew up. 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:09.039 But about 20 or 30 years later, something big happens. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:11.579 And you can take that off, I think. 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:12.099 I don't know. 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:18.299 What happens is these two new kingdoms come up, Egypt and Babylon. 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:23.039 And the people of God are so excited because their lives are so prosperous. 00:11:23.179 --> 00:11:24.219 They have everything they need. 00:11:24.479 --> 00:11:25.799 They have their 2.3 houses. 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:26.799 They have their jobs. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.719 They have everything that we want in Hong Kong. 00:11:29.319 --> 00:11:34.000 And God looks at their heart, and he realizes that their hearts are far from God. 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:37.779 And so he gets this little 30-year-old priest. 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:38.399 He's nobody. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:39.120 He's nothing. 00:11:40.079 --> 00:11:42.740 And he goes to Ezekiel, and he says, I want you to go to the people of God. 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:46.319 And I want you to tell them that on the outside, everything looks great. 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:48.059 It's perfect. 00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:50.740 They're living the perfect dream of Hong Kong. 00:11:50.819 --> 00:11:52.639 They're living a great, great life. 00:11:53.719 --> 00:11:57.219 But inside, they're dead. 00:11:59.959 --> 00:12:01.559 Their lives are dry. 00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:04.279 Their lives are empty. 00:12:04.479 --> 00:12:05.519 Their lives are barren. 00:12:05.599 --> 00:12:08.319 They've been trying to work righteousness all their life. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:10.240 They've forgotten this idea of grace. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:15.500 And so instead of hoping in God, they've been hoping in the things that God has promised to give them. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:21.700 And Ezekiel warns them that, he says, if your faith doesn't change, if you don't get rid of this works righteousness, 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:25.960 and you understand this passive righteousness, this grace that God wants to give you, 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:30.039 if you don't ask God to change your heart, then bad things are going to happen. 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:34.839 And if you read Ezekiel, you realize that the people don't listen. 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:43.639 And then in chapter 24, they don't listen, and all of a sudden Babylon comes in and just wipes out God's people, crushes them. 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:49.159 Everything they hoped in, everything they dreamed in, everything they put meaning in, 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:52.980 everything that they had was taken away, and they were led into captivity. 00:12:54.419 --> 00:13:00.319 Now, remember, they're in captivity because God gave them everything. 00:13:01.699 --> 00:13:02.659 God gave them a land. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:04.620 God gave them a nation. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:06.519 God gave them a strength. 00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:08.200 God gave them himself. 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.879 God gave them his word. 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:12.279 God gave them all these incredible things. 00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:16.720 But God said to them, hey, I just want to warn you that if you lose sight of me, 00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:22.539 if you lose sight of the author of all of your life, of everything that's going on in your life, 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:25.039 if you lose sight of the person who's given you all these things, 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:27.279 then you're going to lose everything. 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:31.679 My covenant with you is going to be broken. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.320 You're going to be cut off. 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:35.820 You're not going to have my law. 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:36.799 You're not going to have me. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.019 You're going to be without hope. 00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:45.639 So basically, the penalty for disobedience in God's kingdom at that time and now is that people were cut off. 00:13:46.819 --> 00:13:48.319 And they lost all those things. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:49.679 And so they're in this captivity. 00:13:50.539 --> 00:13:52.059 That happens in chapter 24. 00:13:52.319 --> 00:13:54.819 So up until chapter 24, God's been warning them. 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:55.720 God's been warning them. 00:13:55.819 --> 00:13:56.519 God's been warning them. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:58.620 Destruction, bad things, be careful. 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:00.620 Danger, Will Robinson, four shields up. 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:03.899 Whatever culture and time frame you're in, whatever that warning is, you know, 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.519 that's what's been going on. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.639 And the people have not listened to them. 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:13.559 But then from chapter 14 on, 24 on, from when after the destruction's happened, what God, he changes his message. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.879 Now his message is a message of reconciliation. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:22.360 Now his message is a message of pursuing his people. 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:25.659 Now it's a message of forgiveness. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.699 Now there's this message of hope. 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:31.480 And remember the people have no hope. 00:14:32.520 --> 00:14:33.300 They're lost. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:34.940 They're captives. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:36.600 They're far from God. 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:38.460 And God keeps telling them, I love you. 00:14:38.520 --> 00:14:39.120 I'm pursuing you. 00:14:39.160 --> 00:14:39.759 I'm pursuing you. 00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:40.740 Just come back to me. 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:41.360 Come back to me. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:42.020 Come back to me. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.700 And if you come back to me, everything's going to be okay. 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:46.700 Does that make sense? 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:50.560 So we get to Ezekiel 37 in your bulletin. 00:14:51.520 --> 00:14:52.780 Verses 1 through 14. 00:14:55.400 --> 00:14:59.000 So Ezekiel's walking around, and all of a sudden it says, the hand of the God was upon me. 00:14:59.040 --> 00:15:01.180 And in Hebrew, it's the first time ever that this is said. 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:04.480 And I don't understand if it's happened later on, but this is the first time. 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:06.800 And it basically says God grabs him. 00:15:07.319 --> 00:15:12.079 So Ezekiel the prophet is walking through the town of Babylon. 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:12.959 He's talking to people. 00:15:13.339 --> 00:15:17.019 God grabs him in his spirit, and he takes him out into this valley. 00:15:17.079 --> 00:15:18.699 And this valley is just full of bones. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:25.419 If you read the book of Ezekiel in Ezekiel chapter 3, it's probably the same valley where he first meets God. 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:30.799 And so Ezekiel's standing in this valley full of bones, and God asks him this question. 00:15:31.979 --> 00:15:35.099 Now in Hebrew, the question only has one possible answer. 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.299 The answer is no way. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:42.939 But God asks him this question, and Ezekiel knows God, and he knows that God can do anything. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:47.079 And so Ezekiel says, I don't know, God, whatever you know. 00:15:48.719 --> 00:15:50.079 Because you can do it all. 00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:52.639 It's kind of like a test. 00:15:53.979 --> 00:15:57.839 In verse 4, God tells Ezekiel, okay, so I want you to start teaching. 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.419 I want you to start preaching. 00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:03.279 I want you to start talking to these bones. 00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:06.099 I want you to tell them of the things of God. 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:07.980 I want you to tell them about how awesome God is. 00:16:08.040 --> 00:16:09.920 I want you to tell them about my character and my nature. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.920 I just want you to speak to these bones. 00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:14.680 Can you imagine this? 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:21.620 So he's in this field full of dead bones, just dry and dead, right? 00:16:22.419 --> 00:16:26.440 And he's just walking around, and probably no one's watching him except for God, but he's 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:29.320 just going around, and he's just talking about, this is what God is like, and this is what 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:31.600 God's called me to do, and this is what God wants for you. 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:33.980 This is what God's promises are, and God wants to bring you back. 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:35.799 And he's just talking to these dead bones. 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:40.600 It may be like if you drove by, and I'm in the cemetery in Poc Fulam. 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:44.759 But what do you think if you saw Tobin walking around the cemetery with a Bible, and just, 00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:46.440 okay, this is what God's word said. 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:50.519 In the beginning was the word, and God loves you, and God sent his son. 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:56.659 And you looked at him, and you go, okay, our pastor really needs a break, because he's 00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:57.639 going crazy, you know. 00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:59.120 We need to figure out what's going on there. 00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:00.379 And so this is what's happening. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:06.440 I mean, Ezekiel's just told to talk about God, to preach God's word, because we've 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:08.980 already said that God's word has power, and it changes, and it heals. 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:17.200 And verse 5, it says that God causes his ruah, his breath, his spirit, his wind to come into 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:17.779 the bones. 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:21.839 And so you've got to picture this, guys, because it is so awesome. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:24.200 I mean, it's better than any horror movie you've ever seen in your life. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.779 Have you ever been in a pile of bones? 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:33.299 Now, 1989, before I was married, my wife wants to, let me tell you this, because I did really 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:33.940 stupid things. 00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:37.440 If I had to write a book, the title of the book would be Dumb Things I've Done. 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:43.899 Okay, and so chapter 1 would be 1989, and so some friends and I, we were teaching in 00:17:43.899 --> 00:17:46.139 China, and we said, well, let's do something fun. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.799 And so first we tried to get into North Korea. 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:50.759 And the guy, you know, how did you get in here? 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.660 Well, I spoke Chinese. 00:17:51.859 --> 00:17:52.420 Oh, really? 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.839 And so what nationality are you? 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:54.839 I'm an American. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.240 Okay, what do you want to do here? 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.700 Oh, we want to tour your country. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:00.120 And he's like, oh, okay. 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:04.859 Perhaps, you know, in China, whenever they say perhaps, you know what's going on, right? 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:07.539 Perhaps we will not have tourism in our country this year. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:10.799 So that was his way of saying you're not coming to North Korea. 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:14.559 So instead, we went to Cambodia, and we went to Cambodia, and the Khmer Rouge were still 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:17.099 there, and there was still guerrilla warfare, and people were being shot up. 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:21.819 And we went up to Angkor Wat, and we got chased out into this land minefield, and we ran 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:24.279 through this land minefield, chapter 2 of Dumb Things I've Ever Done. 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:29.599 And then we got down into Phnom Penh, and then we went out into the killing fields. 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:32.980 And I just watched the movie, and at that time, the bones were still there. 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:37.099 And it was overwhelming. 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:43.519 Because I was walking through a field, and there were just clothes, and teeth, and bones, 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:45.279 and just heads, and skeletons. 00:18:45.939 --> 00:18:47.719 They were just building that kiosk that's there now. 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.219 It had like 30,000 skulls in it. 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.759 But at that time, there was just bones everywhere. 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.759 And so this is what Ezekiel's doing. 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:56.959 And he's around all these bones, and he's just preaching, and he's teaching. 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:59.980 And as he does it, what you see is God brings all these bones together. 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:03.220 And there's this massive noise in verse 7. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:05.440 It's actually what he says in this noise. 00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:10.380 It's the same word that's used in Revelations, and it's basically God's voice. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:12.380 It's his trumpet. 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:18.220 So in the end times, when Jesus comes back, he's going to come, 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:20.360 and he's just going to say something like, 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:21.419 Wake up! 00:19:24.179 --> 00:19:27.919 And everybody who's ever passed away, and everybody who's ever died, 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.939 is going to wake up. 00:19:30.979 --> 00:19:32.199 And they're going to come to life. 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:35.240 And so that's what happens here in this Ezekiel passage. 00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:38.159 He just speaks, and all of a sudden, there's this loud noise, 00:19:38.219 --> 00:19:39.619 and there's this rumbling in verse 7, 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:42.939 and it's almost like this earthquake in Hebrew, and it's very intense. 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:45.759 I mean, the words don't do justice in English. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:48.179 You have to understand it in the real language. 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:51.600 And bone is falling onto bone, and muscles are forming, 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:54.180 and tendons are forming, and vessels are forming, 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:56.420 and capillaries, and organs are forming, 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.580 and all these things are happening. 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:59.100 And Ezekiel's just watching. 00:19:59.340 --> 00:20:01.240 And all that happened is because he spoke God's word. 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:04.900 Just like in the beginning when God spoke and things were created, 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.480 he just speaks God's word, and he just obeys what God calls him to do. 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:11.140 And in verse 9, all of a sudden, there's just people standing there. 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:14.660 But they're not alive yet. 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:19.900 And God says to Ezekiel, I want you to preach some more, 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:21.620 and talk about me, and say my word. 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:23.920 And so Ezekiel speaks, and as he speaks, 00:20:24.040 --> 00:20:28.320 God's spirit comes into the people when they come to life. 00:20:28.340 --> 00:20:29.259 It's just like creation. 00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:31.860 In the beginning, it says God took some mud, 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:33.620 and he just kind of shaped it. 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:36.120 Girls, you know why you have such a hard time understanding your men, 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:37.940 because they're made out of mud, right? 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.480 They're just dumb, right? 00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:42.340 And so he just shaped this mud, and he builds this person there, 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:44.699 and then all of a sudden, there's this person standing there, 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.899 and he just goes, whoo. 00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:48.939 And his spirit goes into it, and it breathes it, 00:20:48.959 --> 00:20:49.919 and they come back to life. 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:56.399 And in verse 9 and 10, Ezekiel's just watching all of this, 00:20:56.419 --> 00:20:59.379 and he's in amazement, and he's just doing whatever God's called him to do. 00:20:59.439 --> 00:21:00.919 He's just following what God's told him to do. 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:06.039 In verse 11, God tells us why. 00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:10.800 He says, this is the spiritual condition of all the people, 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:13.440 that we're all dry, we're all lost, 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:16.980 we've all been cut off from these blessings because we've been disobedient, 00:21:18.080 --> 00:21:19.580 but God doesn't give up on them. 00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:23.759 God doesn't give up on us. 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:26.480 And so God is doing something awesome. 00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:27.340 He's reviving them. 00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:29.860 He's bringing them from life, from death to life. 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:31.339 He's putting his spirit back into them. 00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:36.259 And the reason is, the number one reason God does anything is not for Tobin. 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:40.159 The number one reason God does anything is for his glory 00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:44.819 because he's God, and he's great. 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:48.399 Does that make sense? 00:21:51.979 --> 00:21:54.099 There's three things I want us to see in this passage, 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:59.599 three things I've been struggling with and thinking about in my life. 00:22:00.659 --> 00:22:03.740 There's three things in this passage I think that we need to understand as a church 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:06.039 and God's people as we go forward. 00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:09.279 And if we miss it, we're going to miss God's message for us. 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:13.179 We're going to miss what it means to be a church in Hong Kong in 2015. 00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:15.979 And the first thing is this. 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:19.279 There are dead bones everywhere. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:26.299 It's probably the most graphic image in all the Old Testament. 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:31.039 When you read it in the Hebrew, it's incredibly graphic, and it's incredibly gory. 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:36.339 And what God is trying to teach you and me, and what he wants to teach Watermark, 00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:40.660 is that's the condition of people without Christ. 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:49.040 When God looks at people without Christ, they're spiritually dead. 00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:51.680 They're lost. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:57.019 You see, I don't think I understand that sometimes. 00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:58.320 I don't think we understand that. 00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:02.180 Because if we understood that, we would treat people differently. 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:06.640 If we understood that, we would do things differently. 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:13.400 But what he's trying to teach us here is that people without God's Spirit within them, 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:15.900 even though they're made in the image of God, 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:18.720 even though God's fingerprint and watermark is upon them, 00:23:19.020 --> 00:23:22.340 because his Spirit is not in them, they're just dry and they're dead. 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:26.340 Now, I know I'm going to offend some of us here, 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:28.000 because I offend myself when I think of this. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:32.420 But, you know, we think of people like, well, they're a really good friend. 00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.880 And they're a great parent. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:37.420 And they're such a gentle grandparent. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.420 And they're a great colleague. 00:23:39.600 --> 00:23:40.700 And they're such a good teacher. 00:23:40.820 --> 00:23:42.140 And they're so kind and gentle. 00:23:42.520 --> 00:23:45.980 But what Scripture says is, outwardly, yes, that's what they look like. 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:47.660 But inwardly, they're just dead. 00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:50.200 They're just bones. 00:23:51.280 --> 00:23:54.000 And what it seems like is, before God can use Ezekiel, 00:23:54.060 --> 00:23:56.960 and before he can use Tobin, and before he can use Watermark, 00:23:57.160 --> 00:24:00.120 is that we have to understand that apart from God, 00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.820 everyone is dead bones. 00:24:03.820 --> 00:24:04.700 They're lost. 00:24:05.800 --> 00:24:07.840 And if we don't understand this, 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:10.860 if we don't understand the spiritual condition of people around us, 00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:13.420 if we don't understand that the only hope is the good news, 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.620 that Jesus pays for their sins, 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:16.060 if we don't understand this, 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:19.280 then we're going to always spend all of our time talking about philosophy, 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:22.020 and self-help, and Oprah, and religion, 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:24.000 and doctors, and psychiatrists. 00:24:24.020 --> 00:24:25.360 And we're going to talk about all these things. 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.640 But what the Bible says is, 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:29.900 all these things cannot help dead people. 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:35.740 We're going to say as a church that we believe God's word is true, 00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:36.960 because it's just like the sun. 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:39.720 We see it rise, but also as we see it rise, 00:24:39.800 --> 00:24:43.340 it shows and gives us understanding to everything in our world around us. 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:45.980 And as a Christian, 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:48.859 we have an understanding for why things are going on in Europe. 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:51.500 And we can explain what's happening in the hearts of people, 00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:54.879 and we can even give an answer to the solution of what's going on. 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:59.900 Because we know that the problem isn't they haven't been educated well enough, 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.480 or that they're too poor, or they're not fed. 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:05.000 We know that the problem, God's word says, is they don't know God. 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:08.860 And so they're lost, and they're dead. 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:13.440 And I think many of us need to ask God 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:17.000 for some extra measure of grace in our lives today, 00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:19.400 and this week, as we look at our hearts, 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:21.140 and as we look at the hearts of people around us. 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:23.260 Because guys, I think that many of us are deceived. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:29.260 I think we use the words, we talk about it, 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.420 but we're deceived. 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:36.460 We use words like good friend, and great person, 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:39.160 and all these things, and yeah, God's going to give them a pass 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.620 because they've done so many great things. 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:43.020 But what God is trying to teach Ezekiel, 00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:45.240 and what he wants to teach you, and what he wants to teach me, 00:25:45.540 --> 00:25:48.180 is that we need to understand that everybody's dead. 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:51.200 And there's no hope. 00:25:52.260 --> 00:25:54.540 Even the greatest philosopher, even the greatest psychiatrist, 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:56.539 even the great amount of food, even the greatest education, 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:59.639 cannot bring dead people to life. 00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:03.319 The only thing that can bring dead people to life is Jesus. 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:06.779 And so I'm praying for us, guys. 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.720 I'm praying for myself. 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.420 I think we need to confess our pride. 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:11.200 I think we need to confess our self-sufficiency. 00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:13.299 I think we need to confess our arrogance. 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:16.480 Because I think there's a lot of us in here 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:18.519 who thinks that we're doing really well healthily, spiritually, 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:21.319 but we're probably not. 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:27.680 I mean, if we just looked at how often we spent time reading God's word 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.839 and meditating through it, 00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:31.960 and that was the only indicator of our spiritual life, 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.660 I would say probably a lot of us are hurting. 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:37.940 I would say it sometimes or often I hurt. 00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:40.820 Because I need to be reading it more. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.720 But I have this self-sufficiency 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:46.880 in what God's word has said, 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:49.200 that people without him are dead, 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.660 and we have to understand that. 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:52.759 And the only hope for this is his word 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:54.940 and through his son and through a covenant, 00:26:55.060 --> 00:26:56.300 and that's how bones come to life. 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.360 Does that make sense? 00:26:58.359 --> 00:27:01.319 I know it's hard. 00:27:02.179 --> 00:27:03.359 I struggle with it. 00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:05.240 But it's the message of Ezekiel. 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.659 It's the message of the word of God, 00:27:06.719 --> 00:27:07.819 and it's what God wants us to know. 00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:12.099 The next thing that has hit me 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:15.259 and makes me struggle these last six months 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:17.559 is just the words God grabbed him. 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:21.500 What you see here in this whole passage 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:23.639 is that this whole story wouldn't even have happened 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:26.599 if God hadn't come along and grabbed Ezekiel 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:29.139 and put him into this impossible, desperate situation 00:27:29.139 --> 00:27:31.599 and told him to do something that was totally irrational 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:33.019 and beyond his understanding, 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.719 if God hadn't done that, 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:36.279 none of those things would have happened. 00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:39.819 And what you realize when you read the Bible 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:41.659 is that God often does that with you and me. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.119 Jesus did it with his disciples. 00:27:46.939 --> 00:27:49.059 He gives them five loaves and some fish 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:51.079 and says, okay, go feed 5,000 people. 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:53.139 And the guys are like, what? 00:27:54.659 --> 00:27:55.619 How are we going to do that? 00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:59.919 And the message of Ezekiel, 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:01.539 the message that we need to think about 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:04.000 is that often God puts us into these situations 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.359 that are humanly impossible. 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:06.719 He takes us into valleys, 00:28:07.179 --> 00:28:08.779 and he asks us to do hard things. 00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:11.639 He asks us to be patient. 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.219 He asks us to wait. 00:28:17.939 --> 00:28:19.179 He asks us to trust. 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:22.779 He asks us to change. 00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:26.100 He asks us to share with people in our office place. 00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:27.700 He asks us to speak to dead bones. 00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:29.259 He asks us to use our resources. 00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:31.420 He asks us to have hope in him. 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:35.019 And what you see in this passage 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:37.240 is that what God wants us to see in our life 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.320 as we go on our journey, 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.440 in this spiritual journey, 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:41.120 especially when we're in the valleys, 00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:42.900 especially when we're in the difficult times, 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:44.540 what God wants us to see, 00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.720 what he's trying to show Ezekiel, 00:28:45.800 --> 00:28:46.640 is that he's God, 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:49.560 and he's in control. 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.640 And the question is, 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:55.000 will we trust him? 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.800 That God takes us into these valleys 00:28:59.800 --> 00:29:01.540 and these different impossible situations 00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:03.200 because he wants to grow us. 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:04.600 He wants us to trust his word. 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:06.100 He wants us to trust him. 00:29:06.320 --> 00:29:08.000 He doesn't want to trust Tobin's cleverness 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.759 or your cleverness 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:10.200 or your ability to connect 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.759 and your money 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.759 and all these things. 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:13.259 God, if you're God's child, 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.480 he's going to take you into a valley 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.819 and he wants to take you there 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.680 and he wants to show you 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.700 that without him, 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.420 it's impossible. 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:24.240 And if you never went into that valley, 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:26.599 you would never see God 00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:28.140 in his mercy 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:29.920 and in his grace 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:31.460 and in his glory. 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.539 I promise you, 00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:36.099 I'm not asking you to pray for valleys. 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:38.019 I mean, 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:39.139 we feel like we've been in one now 00:29:39.139 --> 00:29:39.659 with health 00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:40.599 and people dying 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.279 and relationships 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:42.980 and just craziness, right? 00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:44.119 But what I realize 00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:44.939 is in the valley, 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:47.279 we meet God. 00:29:49.719 --> 00:29:50.980 We have to meet God. 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:53.659 If you don't meet God, 00:29:53.719 --> 00:29:54.219 we're lost. 00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.799 So God wants to take you 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.339 to a valley. 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.519 God wants you to trust him. 00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.659 God wants you to show you 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.380 that he is enough, 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.300 that he is in control 00:30:07.300 --> 00:30:09.019 and he doesn't just want you 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.540 to do nothing 00:30:09.540 --> 00:30:10.740 because he takes Ezekiel there 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.500 and he tells Ezekiel, 00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:12.519 just teach, 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:13.800 speak, 00:30:14.580 --> 00:30:15.420 talk about God, 00:30:15.540 --> 00:30:16.420 talk about how good he is, 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.080 talk about what he's doing 00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:17.500 in your life, 00:30:17.580 --> 00:30:18.620 talk about what he's teaching you. 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.400 Through these words, 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.400 I'm going to change you. 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.060 Through these words, 00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.660 I'm going to change 00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.600 the people around you. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:24.620 Through these words, 00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:26.820 dead bones and dry bones 00:30:26.820 --> 00:30:27.640 are going to come to life. 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.920 Just speak to the people. 00:30:29.800 --> 00:30:30.720 Speak his word. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:30.779 Lord, 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:35.039 the passage says 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:36.319 that God is always 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:37.779 in our lives. 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.779 The passage says 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.680 that God is always 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.640 in our valleys. 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.940 The passage says 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.700 that God is always 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.759 in our hopelessness. 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.880 He's always 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:51.039 in our broken relationships. 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:51.500 He's always 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.360 in our strained work. 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.039 He's always 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.640 in our friendships 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:54.360 that are out of control. 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:54.799 He's always 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.539 in our classrooms. 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:56.559 He's always, 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.940 wherever he has his people, 00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.259 he is working there. 00:30:59.259 --> 00:30:59.859 He's speaking 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:01.299 and he's just asking you, 00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:02.279 will you trust him? 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:07.559 Will you trust him? 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.940 That's all he's asking us 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.160 to do. 00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.579 Trust him 00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.700 and to speak of him. 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.700 So God grabs us 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.599 into these valleys 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.359 and he places us 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:22.019 in these places 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:23.160 and he wants to change us 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:23.799 and I think that is 00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:24.640 the biggest message 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.839 that he's trying 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:26.500 to teach us 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:28.140 in the valley of bones 00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:29.680 is that we can try 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.020 to work 00:31:30.020 --> 00:31:30.500 and we can try 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:30.780 to do, 00:31:30.840 --> 00:31:31.140 we can try 00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:32.040 to do all these things 00:31:32.040 --> 00:31:32.400 and no matter 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.020 what we do, 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:33.700 we're always 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.460 going to fall short 00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:34.980 because they're 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.520 dead people 00:31:35.520 --> 00:31:38.300 and they're hopeless 00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:39.259 situations 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:41.680 and only God 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.040 can work 00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:43.000 in hopeless situations 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.540 and only God 00:31:43.540 --> 00:31:44.440 can change dead people 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:44.960 and only God 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.880 can change your heart. 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.180 This passage 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:48.880 isn't just for people 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:50.220 who aren't Christians yet. 00:31:50.300 --> 00:31:50.680 This passage 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.259 is for people 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.660 who are Christians 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:55.180 but they've forgotten 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:55.640 God 00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:58.940 because that's what 00:31:58.940 --> 00:31:59.660 happened to the people 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.140 of God. 00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:01.740 These are God's people 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.279 he's talking to 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.080 and they just forgot. 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.620 They've turned their back 00:32:05.620 --> 00:32:06.080 and they've walked 00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:06.900 in different directions. 00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:10.500 When God looks at us 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.860 he sees dryness, 00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:15.120 brokenness 00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:20.440 and he wants to heal us 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:21.360 and bring us together 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:24.519 does that make sense? 00:32:26.459 --> 00:32:27.639 Everybody's really serious. 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:32.000 One last thing. 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.779 The thing that's awesome 00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.699 to me about this passage 00:32:35.699 --> 00:32:36.319 is that no matter 00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:37.000 what happens 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.839 as God's people 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:39.079 no matter what we do 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:39.979 no matter how much 00:32:39.979 --> 00:32:40.679 we mess up 00:32:40.679 --> 00:32:41.619 that God is always 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:42.419 pursuing us. 00:32:44.459 --> 00:32:45.259 But if you're here 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.679 right now 00:32:45.679 --> 00:32:46.299 that you're never 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.719 too far away from God 00:32:47.719 --> 00:32:50.779 that God knows 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:52.119 everything you've done. 00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:55.579 He knows your disobedience. 00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:58.399 He knows your failures. 00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:01.460 He knows how you've 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:02.379 broken his covenant. 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:05.339 He knows the promises 00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:06.000 that he's given you 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.920 and all these great things 00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:07.379 and he knows 00:33:07.379 --> 00:33:08.599 that you've loved 00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:09.420 those things 00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:10.220 more than you love 00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.139 the gift giver. 00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:15.800 the message of Ezekiel 00:33:15.800 --> 00:33:16.900 is that he knows 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:17.200 that. 00:33:17.300 --> 00:33:18.240 He's pursuing you 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.980 and he loves you 00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.840 and he's asking you 00:33:19.840 --> 00:33:20.640 will you come back? 00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:23.940 Will you come back? 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.420 That's the power 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.220 of God's word. 00:33:30.820 --> 00:33:31.940 The power of God's word 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.640 is to bring people 00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:33.500 who are dead to life. 00:33:33.580 --> 00:33:34.380 The power of God's word 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:35.180 is to bring people 00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:36.020 who are far away 00:33:36.020 --> 00:33:36.960 near. 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:42.079 My prayer for us 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.799 as a church 00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:43.500 is that we would 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.420 always be a church 00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:46.059 that holds God's word 00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.120 secretly 00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:48.360 and truly 00:33:48.360 --> 00:33:49.600 and wholly 00:33:49.600 --> 00:33:51.180 with all the authority 00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:53.640 that we'd read it often. 00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:54.980 I mean if you haven't 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.420 been reading it 00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:55.779 for a while 00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.460 don't say I'm going 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.480 to read an hour today 00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.640 because Tobin said this. 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.360 It's not going to work. 00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:02.019 Read five minutes. 00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:04.380 Just open up the Psalms. 00:34:04.860 --> 00:34:05.539 Open up the Proverbs. 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.559 We're on a journey. 00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:08.579 We're not at the end yet. 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:10.059 We don't want you 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:10.559 to leave here and go 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.079 well I should be doing 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.900 this, this, and this, and this 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.960 because that's works. 00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:15.099 Righteousness. 00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:19.039 We're people of grace. 00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:23.139 Spend five minutes a day 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:23.900 and talk to God 00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:26.579 because he wants 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.300 to hear from you 00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:30.440 and he wants to know you. 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.760 Father I thank you 00:34:34.760 --> 00:34:35.340 for this day. 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:35.539 Father I thank you 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:35.559 for this day. 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.960 I pray for those 00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:39.019 brothers and sisters 00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:40.940 here who hear this message 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.980 and they say 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:43.320 rubbish. 00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:46.380 I'm doing okay. 00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:49.300 I have my money. 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.420 I have my cars. 00:34:50.579 --> 00:34:51.380 I have my houses. 00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:52.460 I have my family. 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.559 I have my relationships. 00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:54.599 I have my health. 00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:56.880 I have my abilities. 00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:57.780 I don't need you. 00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.480 What I pray for those 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:01.240 brothers and sisters 00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:03.639 who are dead bones 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:06.739 that you would take them 00:35:06.739 --> 00:35:07.319 to a valley 00:35:07.319 --> 00:35:09.199 very soon 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:11.159 where they would see 00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:11.879 that all the things 00:35:11.879 --> 00:35:12.599 they cling to 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:14.679 are useless 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:16.979 and that they change 00:35:16.979 --> 00:35:18.799 and they bring no hope. 00:35:19.859 --> 00:35:21.339 They bring a temporary hope 00:35:21.339 --> 00:35:23.739 but not a true hope. 00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:26.799 Father I pray for those 00:35:26.799 --> 00:35:27.559 in our family 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.259 here today 00:35:28.259 --> 00:35:29.639 who are not 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:30.199 in the family 00:35:30.199 --> 00:35:31.199 and they realize 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:32.099 that they're dead bones. 00:35:33.319 --> 00:35:34.279 They realize 00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:35.219 that they are far 00:35:35.219 --> 00:35:36.279 far from you. 00:35:37.379 --> 00:35:38.559 I pray that they would 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.619 hear your words 00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:40.379 spoken. 00:35:41.799 --> 00:35:43.179 I pray that they would 00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:44.239 hear and see 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:44.839 your son. 00:35:44.939 --> 00:35:45.459 I pray that you would 00:35:45.459 --> 00:35:46.519 open their ears 00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:47.419 their eyes 00:35:47.419 --> 00:35:48.219 and their hearts 00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:49.839 so they might receive 00:35:49.839 --> 00:35:50.299 the message 00:35:50.299 --> 00:35:51.139 of your word 00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:52.699 a message 00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:53.500 of grace 00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:55.659 of healing 00:35:55.659 --> 00:35:57.539 of redemption. 00:35:58.779 --> 00:35:59.699 I pray Lord 00:35:59.699 --> 00:36:00.139 that they would 00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.859 just confess 00:36:00.859 --> 00:36:01.579 how they've tried 00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:02.219 to live their life 00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:02.859 on their own 00:36:02.859 --> 00:36:04.559 and the brokenness 00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.739 that's in their hearts. 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.139 Lord I pray 00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:08.460 that you would 00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:08.920 heal them 00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:11.019 not for me 00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:13.319 but for your glory 00:36:13.319 --> 00:36:15.259 because your word 00:36:15.259 --> 00:36:15.980 promises it. 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:18.039 And we're people 00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:18.599 of your word 00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:20.879 and we'll trust you. 00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:23.379 Lord I pray 00:36:23.379 --> 00:36:24.159 for the rest of us 00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:24.819 here who are on 00:36:24.819 --> 00:36:25.199 this journey 00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:26.000 spiritually with you 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:26.900 already as your children. 00:36:28.379 --> 00:36:29.400 Lord I pray for us. 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.839 I pray for the deadness 00:36:31.839 --> 00:36:32.900 in our hearts sometimes. 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:35.460 I pray for the callousness 00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:36.440 as we come to people 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:38.139 who are lost 00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:38.819 and dying 00:36:38.819 --> 00:36:39.440 and broken 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:40.819 and we just ignore them 00:36:40.819 --> 00:36:42.500 because we're too busy. 00:36:44.219 --> 00:36:45.339 Pray for the brokenness 00:36:45.339 --> 00:36:46.039 in my heart 00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:47.339 as I come to your word 00:36:47.339 --> 00:36:47.940 and I just want 00:36:47.940 --> 00:36:48.519 to get it done. 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:49.679 It's like a project. 00:36:49.819 --> 00:36:50.460 I need to get done. 00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.480 I need to do my hour today 00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:52.320 and then I'm okay. 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:52.840 I can do whatever 00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:53.720 I need else to do. 00:36:55.220 --> 00:36:55.820 Lord I just 00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:57.400 ask your forgiveness. 00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.980 We need your healing. 00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:04.360 We need you to change us. 00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:07.619 Lord will you forgive us? 00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:11.480 Pray Lord 00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:11.960 that we would be 00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:13.220 a people who love you. 00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.639 That we would love your word 00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:16.900 and we would hold it true 00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.619 and fast 00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.239 in our hearts 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:18.920 and our minds 00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:20.879 because we'd realize 00:37:20.879 --> 00:37:22.359 it is the power to change. 00:37:24.259 --> 00:37:25.339 It's the power to change 00:37:25.339 --> 00:37:26.259 our lives every day 00:37:26.259 --> 00:37:27.059 as we walk with you. 00:37:28.339 --> 00:37:29.379 The power to change 00:37:29.379 --> 00:37:29.920 dead people 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:31.039 to live live people. 00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:33.420 The power to change 00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:34.739 the western side 00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:35.379 of Hong Kong. 00:37:36.879 --> 00:37:37.799 The power to change 00:37:37.799 --> 00:37:38.299 our work, 00:37:39.299 --> 00:37:40.179 our marriages, 00:37:40.179 --> 00:37:42.019 our hearts, 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:43.960 our kids hearts 00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:46.639 wherever you send us. 00:37:48.199 --> 00:37:49.059 Father we thank you 00:37:49.059 --> 00:37:49.759 for your word. 00:37:51.399 --> 00:37:52.599 Help us to be a people 00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:53.940 that hold it fast 00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:57.780 or nourished by it 00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:59.440 and changed by it 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.240 in all that we do. 00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:02.440 Lord we love you. 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:05.039 We desperately, 00:38:05.700 --> 00:38:06.579 desperately need you. 00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:09.559 We pray all these things 00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:10.700 in your son Jesus Christ 00:38:10.700 --> 00:38:12.000 in the holy name. 00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:13.360 Amen.